Elche today is modern and industrialized. It is now a much respected center for its famous Spanish footwear industry that has hundreds of shoe factories. It is also blooming in the educational industry with two renowned universities; one is a public university called the Miguel Hernndez University and the other is a private university called the University CEU Cardenal Herrera. However, Elche is also a very renowned tourism center for fantastic summer holidays.

History

Elche was inhabited since 5000 B.C. during the modern Stone Age or the Neolithic Age. It blossomed through the Bronze age until the famous Lady of Elche bust was made in the 5th century to represent the best of ancient Iberian art. Today, that bust is kept in Madrid's National Archaeological Museum with copies in Elche.

Elche was conquered by the Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths and Muslims who grew the town into a prestigious commercial center with many unique developments.

Gastronomy

One of the popular choices of Elche stems from its fantastic gastronomy range where a wide selection of Mediterranean dishes is up for grabs. Its Mediterranean kitchen offers various rice dishes that are prepared with secret recipes such as the popular arroz con costra and pipes i carasses.

There is a variety of local desserts that use the dates from the local palm trees. Almonds and other local fresh fruits are commonly used in the local desserts in Elche. There are many well known restaurants that would be able to whip up some tantalizing local dishes that would whet one's appetite. These same restaurants are also skilled in serving European and international cuisine.

Special status

Elche location lloret de mar has a special place in the hearts of the locals and tourists alike; it has a couple of delightful offerings that have it awarded the UNESCO World Heritage site. One of these heritage sites is El Palmeral de Elche or the Elche Palm Grove which is a vast forest of over 200,000 palm trees. This site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 2000 as a large oasis that surrounds the city with a wonderful foliage and landscape.

The other UNESCO World Heritage site is Elx Mystery Play which is a 15th century sacral-lyrical medieval drama. Its presentation is considered a masterpiece in terms of Oral and Intangible Humanity Heritage in 2002. The play is usually performed in mid August in conjunction with the Assumption of Virgin Mary festival.